Here’s the skinny on what happens during a shoot with me!

Never had a photoshoot before? Been asked to act normal and all of a sudden forgotten how your arms work and not sure how to breathe anymore? I got you. Let me demystify the behind the scenes of what I do in shoots so you can understand what’s going to happen and why it’s actually a super laid back process!

1. INCESSANT CHATTING FROM ME - IN THE BEST WAY.

I’ll turn up to your shoot, say hello and - friends - from then on it's all about the fab chats about you and your life and my life and before you know it the shoot is over. The time will fly and not feel awkward at all. I’m a chatterbox naturally, and have found it one of THE BEST ways to help clients relax, not feel awkward, not have to talk if they don’t want to, and distract them from the fact I have a camera. A small family, a huge wedding, a corporate event - always the same and always so much fun.

2. SUPER UPBEAT ENERGY THAT WILL KEEP THE SHOOT POSITIVE.

I am always so flippin pumped to be taking photos. So psyched someone has chosen me to capture their life. So bloody delighted to see what magic happens around me. So pumped to be meeting new people. The joy pours out of me and the energy levels are HIGH. I witness it at every shoot I go to - the energy transfers from me to you and BOOM - we’re all vibing.

3. I WORK AROUND YOU - FREEDOM TO MOVE

If I’m not exhausted by the end of a shoot, I’m not doing it right. That's probably a bit dramatic. I'm mostly exhausted cos I’m in my late 30s. BUT the point of it is I have learnt that the best way to create natural moments for clients is to let you do your thing and for me to be the one that moves around and runs about like a lunatic to get the shot. In most shoots you’ll hear me say - ‘do your thing! Go wherever you want, I’ll follow! It totally feels like chaos to you but it’s magic from my end!’ Then you’ll most likely witness me contort my body into weird angles to get the shot, lie on the floor, climb up a tree, squish myself into a corner, squat down low, wobbly balance on my toes. All totally worth it and waaaay better for you then asking you to pose.

4. FINDING THE HIDDEN ANGLES, SPOTS AND LIGHT IN YOUR HOME/LOCATION SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO

I know you may think your house is a tornado-swept-messy-as-hell-not-aesthetic-bombsite but it’s honestly not. Part of my job is to see art where others don’t. Literally how my brain works, and part of why I’m able to be a photographer. I will find the magic in your house. I’ll find it at any location.

5. BONDING WITH THE KIDS

One of my top priorities if there are kids involved is to make them feel comfy and build a rapport pretty quickly. The benefit of working with kids for so long and being a mum myself is that I generally find this pretty cruisy.  Consent and connection with kids makes the whole thing easier and I’m not above making fart noises to do so. A sneaky bonus to this is that sometimes parents find it way less confronting to focus on the kids than the fact that we're having a photoshoot. I fully support the move! Kids have this uncanny habit of making situations fun and I’m all for it. 

6. ZERO STRESS AND GENTLE GUIDING TO KEEP YOU ON TRACK

Losing yourself in the experience of the moment is honestly the best thing I could hope for when it comes time for your shoot. I don’t want you thinking about tracking the time, making sure we get everything done, or worrying that the shoot isn’t working. One of my fav skills that has developed through working in photography is how to discreetly track time, pace shoots so that we don't feel rushed, and gently guide my clients so I know we have covered all the bases. If I’m doing my job right you shouldn’t even notice me doing it!

7. PATIENCE ALLOWING THE SCENE TO UNFOLD

You can’t rush perfection, and you my friends, are perfection. Corny - yes. True? Also yes. I want to give you the space to be relaxed and natural - which means I will pause and wait and exist with you all in the moment. Holding a beat almost always pays off (the only exception is when you work with boisterous puppies - shoot like crazy in those moments. Trust me.), and I will happily plonk myself on the ground next to a playing child and chill waiting for the right moment to come. I’ve found that if I have urgent energy - everyone is tense, and that is no fun at all. Waiting for the right moment is the way to go and I love waiting to see what will happen.

8. IN THE MOMENT PROBLEM SOLVING

Not going to lie - this one is actually a mini addiction for me. I live for those chaotic, complex situations and having to come up with solutions on the spot. Heck yes throw in a grumpy child on the day. Rain on your wedding day? No problems. Can’t use my flash because someone is sensitive to light? Easy fix. No room for me to move about? Totally fine. Walking in blind to a location and situation with strangers? Let’s do this. Nothing is a bother, and being creative in unknown situations energizes the heck out of me. It's totally understandable when clients worry about various things happening around their photoshoot, and I work hard to reassure everyone that - in fact - everything is groovy and we don’t need to worry about anything. That’s what I’m there for. I got you!

9. EPIC CHEERLEADING ENERGY - COS BABY YOU ARE FIIIIINE

The way in which I will earnestly pump you up cos you ARE amazing is not a joke. I WILL exclaim, and swear at how fab you are. I WILL tell you how great you’re doing and how fire your photos are looking. And the best thing is - I am not lying one iota. You are fucking fantastic and I have zero shame shouting it from the rooftops. Surrender to the love friends, I am your biggest cheerleader and you can’t fight the compliments. No way am I letting you leave my company without an ego twice the size as when I arrived. I will talk you through what’s happening when you need it, reassure you throughout our time together and remove any awkwardness so you are relaxed to the max. Making the experience enjoyable is a huge part of my work, and it’s the friggin best.

10. A FRIEND FOR LIFE BABES

So - after all that, did you really think I wouldn’t be your bestie by the end?? Capturing the magic of your family, your wedding day, your celebration of you, is so much fun and such a joyful sharing of intimacy - no way are you getting rid of me at the end of it all. I love hearing from past clients, always want to hear updates - and always want to come back and capture more magic as you grow and evolve over the years. I have watched families grow, children become teens, lives begin and love be celebrated and it's the goddamn best feeling ever. Approaching my shoots like I’ve mentioned above has resulted in incredible moments in my biz, and my life - and I wouldn’t change a thing. Having clients ask me back is so rewarding, and having a familiar face turn up to their events makes things so much easier and relaxed for them.

A photoshoot is simply an excuse for a fun time, and 100% not something to be nervous about. PleYou should always feel comfy to talk to your photographer, ask questions, and work with someone who is transparent AF with how they work and what the vibes will be when you’re working together. Now then - off you go and book your shoot!